Show ADOPTION BY INDIANS RACKET writer declares it merely a fake ceremony adoption of oe white men into indian tribes has developed into a moneymaking rocket according to some indian leaders regular as well its as fake ceremonies are discussed in an article in the christian Ii ristian science monitor by miss mabel knight upon whom the name tit ta ke de aln was conferred when she was adopted by the onitha tribe in gratitude for her lectures and writings on indian subjects when indians don war paint dance around a white man and then give him a oriole name miss knight writes it may inny flatter ta the ie latter and the former will be richer perhaps by 5 but these indians will not consider such a one in an adopted member of the tribe for this bought rind and paid for ceremony Is only a mock adoption this fake adoption Is getting to be ba a racket said charlie W allson ilson prominent nez pace pe ace indian during a rece recent at celebration of the tribe the adoption of white people into the tribe and then giving them the indian equivalent of chief pine find W white bite whiskers and princess brook with the silver voice as names should be stopped indians with no tribal standing continued wilson have been inviting whites with no tribal connects connections ons to attend our ceremonies and to become members after an exchange of gifts the gifts of the indians being native trinkets of little worth while the gifts of the whites are large amounts of the good old cash no white man ever becomes ft a bonafide bona fide member of a tribe by asking for that favor first he must prove his worth by really helping the indians out of some difficulty and those who like the indians well enough to do that would not think of imposing upon them by asking for for the greatest of all honors that of being adopted into a tribe probably no tribe numbers more than ft a halt half dozen really adopted white members when a white man Is judged worthy of adoption the honor comes upon him quite unaware usually and the ceremony Is dignified with the president or chief of the tribe pronouncing noun cing in his native tongue the words which give this new member a name not only a tribal name but one which also makes him a m member aber of some clan of that tribe with all the honors pertaining to it when the indians finally decide to honor a man or woman by making him or her a member of their tribe the indians give not take and impress this fact upon the new nev members so that the latter is prohibited at that time from showing his appreciation by making presents to the indians quite the reverse the indians like to show their gratitude by giving the new members such valuable gifts as blankets par fleches cases and ancient beaded buckskin pieces instances of legal adoption are comparatively rare mrs harriet maxwell converse of new york was made a member of the seneca tribe and later given a chieftainship in the six nations but that happened only after aiding them by preventing unfair legislation both in albany and washington more than that her home la in new york was open to any indian who found himself robbed or swindled in the city and frequently an indian would leave her home the richer by a new suit of clothes in small things and big ones mrs converse proved a real friend to the in deans and the tribe delighted to honor bierin her in every possible way A willio white man cannot buy adem 1 into any tribe rather be h must earn it |